BOE initiates major election reforms

The Board of Election has instituted major election reforms as officials yesterday declared that the forthcoming general election will be closely watched and transparent.

Measures to prevent possible problems that may range from absentee voting to irregularities are being addressed as early as now, Election Executive Director Greg Sablan said.

The BOE is currently accepting applicants for the position of election officials where at least 1,000 individuals are expected to be signed up. Of the said number, only about 200 will be deputized as election officials for the November polls.

He said this summer, BOE will be holding series of seminars to educate selected individuals on various election regulations and policies that must be strictly complied with especially on the election day itself.

Apart from this, the election office will also deputize members of the Department of Public Safety as precautionary measures are being set up for the observance of 100-meter leeway from public areas.

For Kagman and Chalan Kanoa communities, election process won’t be held at the public schools. Instead, polling precinct will be moved to the Municipal Council for Chalan Kanoa while in Kagman, the newly constructed Kagman Community Center will serve as polling center.

Mr. Sablan also disclosed that plans are being mapped out on proposed home voting where deputized election officers will be dispatched to areas where registered voters are incapacitated to go out and exercise their rights.

These areas such as residence, jails and homes of individuals with disabilities will be identified through a detailed process that the BOE is currently working on.

BOE will also make a special arrangement with the Saipan Postmaster on how absentee voters can cast their votes through mails. He said tags will be posted on these envelopes and will be simultaneously opened after seven days.

Mr. Sablan also disclosed plans to issue voter’s number to each of the 15,000 registered voters of the Commonwealth. The number to be issued to a registered voter can be used for succeeding elections and throughout their stay on Saipan.

These reforms, along with the proposal by 38 nation secretaries of United States to reform standards on how votes are cast in election, will be strictly observed by the BOE, he said,

The National Association of Secretaries of States Proposed Voting Reform is composed of 11 items which include aggressive voter-education programs, poll worker recruitment and training, election day rules and procedures to ensure equal treatment of voters, upgrade voting machines, equipment and system, accurate voter registration rolls, and others. (EGA)